Tag: spiritual

The Case for Christ (2017) historyvshollywood.com
Starring Mike Vogel, Erika Christensen, Faye Dunaway, Robert Forster | based on the autobiography ‘The Case for Christ’ by Lee Strobel”
“…Did Lee Strobel really have an alcohol problem before he became a Christian?
Yes, he drank in excess regularly. In a Lee Strobel interview, he says that as an atheist, he had concluded that the best way to live his life was as a hedonist. “Just pursue pleasure, this is all you get in this world. So, that was my number one goal in life,” says Strobel, “to bring maximum pleasure into my life. And so I lived a very immoral, and drunken, and profane, and narcissistic, really self-destructive kind of a life. That was my life.”..”

In this updated, expanded edition, starting with Freud’s “projection theory” of religion – that belief in God is merely a product of man’s desire for security – Professor Vitz argues that psychoanalysis actually provides a more satisfying explanation for atheism. Disappointment in one’s earthly father, whether through death, absence, or mistreatment, frequently leads to a rejection of God.

A biographical survey of influential atheists of the past four centuries shows that this “defective father hypothesis” provides a consistent explanation of the “intense atheism” of these thinkers. A survey of the leading defenders of Christianity over the same period confirms the hypothesis, finding few defective fathers. Vitz concludes with an intriguing comparison of male and female atheists and a consideration of other psychological factors that can contribute to atheism.

Professor Vitz does not argue that atheism is psychologically determined. Each man, whatever his experiences, ultimately chooses to accept God or reject him. Yet the cavalier attribution of religious faith to irrational, psychological needs is so prevalent that an exposition of the psychological factors predisposing one to atheism is necessary. “

Growing up , I loved watching “horror movies”! I would watch it with some friends and love getting “entertained”. However, this interest of the “unknown” had some consequences. I would have nightmares (e.g. “hell”) constantly at night. I would later find out (after giving my life to Christ-see personal testimony), I “opened” my soul to a lot of “evil spirits”, which tormented me for years.

We all get curious trying “new things”, but some of it can be “dangerous”

In 2010, Ballard and his friends were hanging out in the backyard of his family’s Sydney home when they saw the slug going by. As a joke, the teens dared Ballard to eat it.

“We were sitting over here having a bit of a red wine appreciation night, trying to act as grown-ups and a slug came crawling across here,” one of Ballard’s best friends, Jimmy Galvin, told the Australian news show The Project in April. “The conversation came up, you know. ‘Should I eat it?’ And off Sam went. Bang. That’s how it happened.”

A few days later, Ballard started complaining of leg pains.

“He said, ‘I ate a slug; it could’ve been that,’ ” his mom, Katie. “And I said, ‘No one gets sick from that.’ He was scared, so you know, as a mum, all you want to do is reassure them.

But the slug was the culprit, and had led Sam to contract rat lungworm, or angiostrongyliasis — a parasite carried by rats that affects the brain and spinal cord. It left Sam in a coma for 420 days, and when he woke up he was paralyzed, and unable to eat or go to the bathroom on his own. He also needed a tracheotomy….”..”

Ghosts

Occult

Modern Dangers of the Occult

Tomorrow’s World
Published on Oct 14, 2013
Millions think of séances, astrology and “magic” as harmless entertainments, but they can be deadly to our spiritual and physical lives. If you are involved with the occult, you need to stop! God can help you escape, if you are willing to obey Him!

How Ouija boards work. (Hint: It’s not ghosts.) No, demons will not possess you if you use one.
By Aja Romano@ajaromano Updated Sep 29, 2017, 10:06am EDT vox.com“..The ideomotor effect is behind much more than just Ouija boards — including several harmful real-life scams and “therapies”..”

-Other Belief

Ouija Board WARNING – Ex Occultists Chenzo and Laura.
Posted on February 21, 2017 ourspiritualquest.com“..It’s not just people who some label “Fundamentalist Christians” that warn against the dangers of the Ouija Board. Even some people who practice alternative spiritualities (new age, spiritualism, etc) warn against the evil and harmful effects of this device…

When I was a Spiritualist, most Mediums warned of using it. Now it seems, anything goes!

Whether the board is an ancient one, newly created, designed with cute imagery or eerie imagery, it’s purpose and results remain the same! Don’t be fooled by a sugar coated package – pink girly ouija boards summon the same deceptive and evil demons that darker looking boards do!

There are Ouija Boards sold in toy shops. Pink boards marketed at girls aged 10 years and glow in the dark boards for boys! There are even Apps aimed at three year old infants – seriously?!!!…

Don’t take my word for it. Do a search on reports and journal papers by psychiatrists worldwide. Twenty plus years ago when I was still a spiritualist, I did just that, for an essay in university on Schizophrenia. There were masses of reports on the correlations between Ouija Board or Occult use and mental health issues! Hey, that was 20+ years ago. No doubt it’s worse now!…

The best thing to do with Ouija Boards, is burn them. As you do so, pray and ask Jesus to cleanse you and set you free from the demonic oppression or possession and curses they bring into the lives of your family, yourself and your descendants…

Test The Spirits!

I’d advise you test spirits summoned by the board. My practical advice on how to test and challenge every entity that appears to you, is offered in my article, Test the Spirits and Angels – Challenge their True Identity!..”

Psychics

Miss Cleo Commercial (1998) – YouTube

Feds Accuse Miss Cleo Hot Lines of Fraud By ABC News Feb. 14 abcnews.go.com“.. The 900-number service has used false promises of free “psychic readings” and other deceptive and abusive practices to bilk as much as $360 million from callers, the Federal Trade Commission alleges in a complaint filed Wednesday. ..

The complaint alleges that the company’s “psychic readers” are trained to prolong calls to maximize the cost, and employees who do not keep callers on the line long enough are fired.

Calls can last up to 60 minutes, the complaint alleges, resulting in bills of up to $300 at the typical rate of $4.99 a minute. ..”

I Was A Fake Internet Psychic By Hope Racine theestablishment.co“..I have absolutely no preternatural powers, but I’ve always had an interest in the mystical, the mysterious — the inscrutable unexplainables that populate our world. When I started college, I brought a deck of tarot cards and a Buffy The Vampire Slayer Ouija board with me. My vague tarot readings had made me a hit among the girls in my dorm and I used my knowledge of their lives to deliver pointed predictions. When reading for strangers, I would use guesswork and make their readings ambiguous enough that I couldn’t be held accountable when my predictions weren’t true. And, as impressionable teenagers are known to do, they took my vague messages and ran with them…
For true believers, I understand that my actions are abhorrent and I’m one of the frauds who taints the practice and lends it a bad name. There are many Internet psychics who take their work far more seriously than I did. They charge more, provide more insight, and often prefer to speak to clients by telephone. I won’t speculate as to whether they have any actual abilities, but I will consider that many of them likely believe they do…”

This psychic scam has raked in over $200 million – YouTube

How Fake Psychics Fool Their Victims – YouTube

Tarot Cards

Danger of the Tarot Cards – Testimony of Tina an ex-tarot card reader Posted on June 6, 2012 newagedeception.wordpress.com“..Spirituality. We simply didn’t know any better and nobody taught us otherwise. From being a
teenager my mother and I visited Mediums, Psychics, Crystal Ball and Tarot Card readers. We went
to people’s houses for ‘sittings’ to contact the dead and receive messages. We began to attend..”

I realized afterwards this was
the beginnings of something wanting to take possession of my faculties. This was the beginnings of
something evil forcing me into trance against my will…

…The Church of England employs at least one Exorcist in every Diocese in the country. I renounced
my involvement with the Occult with the Exorcist in my area. Knelt before the cross, I was anointed
with Holy oil blessed by the Archbishop. People laid hands on me and prayed as I read aloud my
renouncement. To say sorry to Jesus was very special, and I’m so glad I did this.

I now realize what was beginning to happen to me, and how much worse it could have been, if this…

I knew Christianity was what I’d been looking for all my life. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and
the life”, this struck a chord with me instantly, how fantastic! Knowing Jesus is far more fulfilling..”

‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out Spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your
God’ . . . . . Leviticus 19:31 “

Are tarot cards safe to play with for a Christain – YouTube

Other Perspectives

What does Islam say about psychic abilities? answers.yahoo.com“..
Prophet ﷺ said “Whoever goes to a soothsayer and asks him about something and believes him, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days.” (Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh).

“Some people asked the Prophet ﷺ about soothsayers. He said, ‘They are nothing.’ They said, Prophet ﷺ, sometimes they say something and it comes true.’ Prophet ﷺ said: ‘That is a word of truth that the jinn snatches and whispers into the ear of his familiar, but they mix a hundred lies with it.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim)..”

The Most Evil, Satanic Game of All Time…DUNGEONS & DRAGONS | #AskCalabrese Ep.27

Satanism Unmasked Dungeons & Dragons

Is Dungeon and Dragons Evil? *60 Minutes 1985 special *SHOCKING*

“Trevor Franklin
1 year ago
As a Christian, I honestly believe that the shared connection, escape, and friendship fascilitated by D&D probably saved more kids than it ever drove to suicide. Perhaps 60 minutes would like to do a special on the link between organized sports and suicide, if hunting witches is the goal?﻿ ..

Sarah Water
Sarah Water
1 year ago
Gary Gygax was a lot nicer than I would have been. When asked about that kid’s suicide, as soon as the Mom said she had never heard of the game before seeing it in his notebooks, my immediate thought was maybe not paying enough attention to know he plays D&D had something to do with why he was suicidal. Next thought, “Wait, he never had any previous psychological problems? He didn’t know how to separate a fantasy game world from real life… I’d say that’s a sign of a psychological problem. Again, the fact the parents didn’t pay attention enough to notice something was wrong has far more to do with the suicide than a silly game we like to play.”

The idea that because 12 people who committed suicide also shared a hobby, therefore the hobby must be the root cause, is beyond ridiculous. What about everybody else who committed suicide and don’t play, and what about the other 2,999,988 people who play D&D who haven’t killed themselves?﻿ …”

=>Neutral Perspective

Should a Christian play multi-player fantasy games like Dungeons and Dragons? gotquestions.org“.. Fantasy games in particular often include magic, murder, and general mayhem. In online games, female avatars (representations of characters) are often scantily dressed. Some RPGs allow players to flirt with each other or have sexual encounters. In general, many video games are structured in such a way that encourages obsessive or addictive behaviors as players attempt to reach certain levels. Of course, the same can be said of many other types of entertainment…”

“..One of the most appealing aspects of D&D is the fact that it is designed to be played with other people. It involves sitting with them for hours, and time spent together, even time spent playing a game, has a way of forging relationships. D&D games can last for an afternoon or continue for years, and through the whole process, players are together. In a world where we are increasingly isolated, Dungeons & Dragons provides an opportunity for people to spend time together; time that is lighthearted and fun, yes, but also time that is deeply meaningful. ..

It is this deep longing for story and for connection that is driving the resurgence of Dungeons & Dragons. The problem though, is many people in the church today still live with the same vague, residual impression that there is something inherently sinful about D&D that I grew up with. ..

The current rise in popularity of Dungeons & Dragons is bringing many of those lingering fears to the surface once again. As the number of people interested in D&D grows, the chances that are there are people in your congregations and in your neighborhood who play does as well. If we continue thinking that D&D is somehow wrong and that our attitudes about it don’t really matter, we run the risk of repeating the same mistakes of the past, only worse this time because even more people will be pushed away from the gospel…

As believers, we are storytellers. We know and love the God who created stories in the first place, and who has imprinted the greatest story of all time on our heart. D&D may just be a game, a hobby, but it is also an amazing way to live out that storyteller, relational, truth-seeking part of our hearts. It’s not surprising to me that it’s growing more and more popular every day – it’s fun and honest and interactive. It’s is not for everyone, though, and I get that too. Orcs, elves, and magic may not be your cup of tea. But for some, especially us more geeky folks, it’s an amazing way to connect. So go ahead, grab a Players Handbook (or find the basic rules for free online), gather some friends, and give it a try. Just don’t be surprised if you find that your world gets a little brighter, your love for people a little deeper, and your view of God a little bigger as a result.

Should Christians Play Dungeons & Dragons? – Geeks Under Grace geeksundergrace.com“..Bible-believing Christians can be pretty well settled on things that are laid out in Scripture, Bible2but when things come up like this that aren’t, we have a tendency to form our war parties and stay on our side of the fence. We’ve seen it with movies, the internet, cell phones, and more. (I will explicitly state there were Christians on both sides of all of those arguments.) This isn’t to say all things that aren’t laid out in Scripture should be entertained. Things like pornography, for example, should obviously be opposed by all Christians. Watching two other people have sex is obviously not a part of God’s design. But when we come to a grayer area such as this, it benefits us to do our research…

So after hours of research and polling my Christian family and friends, here are the arguments I was presented with. Try to resist the temptation to skim the article as I know it is long, but there may be some things you have not thought of in any section below. Please keep an open mind no matter what your predisposition is to this subject, and use the information as an opportunity to grow closer to an understanding with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ…

The Game is Time Consuming and Can Lead to Idolatry & Addiction..

…if you start getting addicted to Dungeons & Dragons and it becomes, or begins to become, an idol, you need to stop playing it.
There are no two ways around it; idols are devastating to your faith. If you have spent any time reading the Old Testament, you’ll see Israel falling into that trap multiple times. Now I know their idols were wooden, stone, or metal dolls or statues, but the sentiment is the same: Don’t put other things before God. So stay in prayer and if you see yourself slipping with God and giving time to the game that should be dedicated to Him, drop it like it’s hot!
So if the game consumes time and isn’t beneficial in any way, why waste time playing it? I mean, Philippians 4:8 says, “Fi..”…

So when introducing D&D to a younger audience, the parent or guardian should take special care to ensure it isn’t more than a game to them. Monitor them closely or wait until you are sure they have matured enough to be able to make the distinction. This is advice I have had to follow myself. I have wanted to sit down with my son, who loves fantasy games and movies, but I have had to cut him off of some video games due to him having genuine fear from the characters on the game in the real world. (We’re talking cartoony games, too. I don’t let him play Resident Evil or anything gruesome.) Some games he makes the distinction with easily, others he’ll have to wait until he is older to play. I’m playing it safe with D&D and starting him later, since you engage more in the world in some ways than with video games.

Dungeons and Dragons Leads People into the Occult

There have been a number of controversies surrounding D&D, the most prominent of which was popularized by William Schnoebelen. He was a Wiccan Priest before becoming a Satanic Priest who eventually dedicated his life to the Lord. Schnoebelen published his first article with Chick Publications titled, Straight Talk on Dungeons and Dragons, and a subsequent article, Should a Christian Play Dungeons & Dragons? (Coincidence? Nah, it’s a good to-the-point title.) I could go point-for-point with you and explain where I agree and disagree from the standpoint of a player, but most of the points he makes are covered in this article, so I will save the word count here…

…Again, the destructive nature lies in the person, not the game, and I agree someone with those tendencies should not play Dungeons & Dragons. And if you do play D&D, and get into a game with someone who wants to make the game about things that make you uncomfortable spiritually, you should politely walk away and decline to play with them…

The Creator of Dungeons & Dragons Was A Christian
gygax-xmas-sYou read that right. Gary Gygax, the creator of D&D, was a professing Christian at the time he created the game. This isn’t necessarily a little-known fact, but to some it is news. He didn’t make that well-known in his life in what he described as an effort to protect the name of Christianity from the controversy that surrounded his creation.

Now, there are Christians at all stages of their walk with Christ, and as I’ve highlighted in this article, no two walks are the same. But Gygax was mature enough and firm enough in his faith to stand by his convictions. In the letter you see with this section, Gygax addresses why he couldn’t in his right conscience celebrate Christmas for its known pagan traditions. If someone has that kind of spiritual convictions can create a game like D&D, I believe it stands to reason there should be some Christians who could play it….

Five Surprising Facts About Dungeons & Dragons Creator Gary Gygax By Matt Staggs November 12, 2015 unboundworlds.com“..4) Dungeons & Dragons & Conservatism & Christianity
Ironically, for a person who was frequently the object of attacks by the Religious Right, Gary was both a Republican and Christian—a Jehovah’s Witness, actually. Of course, Gary didn’t always practice what he preached. He sometimes smoked weed when he played wargames and used cocaine and other drugs during the height of D&D’s popularity. Gary eventually abandoned the Republicans in favor of libertarianism, and broke ties with the church after it voiced its approval of the game that made him famous. He did, however, remain a Christian until the day he died…”

Kabbalah (interestingly, also spelled Cabala in the dictionary) is an ancient Jewish mystical tradition based upon esoteric (mysterious, secret, restricted to initiates) interpretations of the hidden meanings of the Hebrew Scriptures. Another definition given is this: ‘any secret or occult doctrine or science’.
..”

Skull and Bones

How Bush’s grandfather helped Hitler’s rise to power Ben Aris in Berlin and Duncan Campbell in Washington Sat 25 Sep 2004 18.59 EDT theguardian.com“..Prescott Bush, a 6ft 4in charmer with a rich singing voice, was the founder of the Bush political dynasty and was once considered a potential presidential candidate himself. Like his son, George, and grandson, George W, he went to Yale where he was, again like his descendants, a member of the secretive and influential Skull and Bones student society. He was an artillery captain in the first world war and married Dorothy Walker, the daughter of George Herbert Walker, in 1921.

Horoscopes, Tarot Cards, and Oija Boards. What’s the big deal? bulldogcatholic.org“..Another argument is that a person only uses ouija boards or reads their horoscope “for fun”. When it comes to ouija boards, some statistics report that over 80 percent of demonic possession happen through the medium of a ouija board. This can be true even if only used “as a game”. As far as horoscopes are concerned, I know that most of us see them as they often are: silly fortune cookie-esque sayings. This may be true, and glancing over one’s horoscope might be nothing more than a mildly entertaining joke you share with your coworkers on a coffee break. But we validate their existence when we pay attention to them. Even more seriously, they may de-sensitize our consciences to real demonic influences through exposure. Bottom line: we are Christian and we are called to be different…”

Deliverance From Demons in Jesus’ Name deliverancefromdemonsinjesusname.wordpress.com/
Resources on How to Deal With Demonic Issue and Exposing Satan’s Deceptions“..That said, we must know the real battle is a spiritual battle going all around us (Ephesians 6:10-18). Satan and his hosts of angels have declared war against God. They fight for the souls of men and women. And believe it or not, like it or not, we are the battlefield…”

Sexually Immoral

Temptation Overall

CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT: TEMPTATION Posted on March 5, 2017 by stephaniedoublee “..Going through the first reading of today (Genesis 2 and 3) which was about the temptation of Adam and Eve by the devil and how God finally threw them from the garden of Eden, I recall a story I was told when I was a kid about this beggar who stayed at the roadside along one estate. Every day, he keeps lamenting that if not for Adam and Eve that ate from the forbidden fruit and disobeyed God, he would have been living a better life. There lived a rich man who always pass through that road on his way home and was always hearing the lamentations of this beggar. On this fateful day, he stopped his car and asked the beggar why he keeps lamenting. The beggar responded by saying that if not for the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the world would have been a land full of milk and honey. The rich man further asked him if he would not have done the same thing if he was to be in the place of Adam and Eve. He told the rich man that he will never do that because they were many other fruits to eat from. ..”

I just watched this movie with my bro’s family and was very happy I saw it. This movie was better than I expected. The trailer doesn’t say it all. The movie had some “life lessons” that had me thinking and reevaluating more of my life. I decided to write about this while it is fresh in my mind and heart. Hope you readers can relate…

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) imdb.com“..Four teenagers discover an old video game console and are literally drawn into the game’s jungle setting, becoming the adult avatars they choose. ..”

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE – Official Trailer (HD) – YouTube

The movie started with a curious teen (Alex) that finds this video game console in the beach in the year of 1996 (note the “old school” video game console that looks like a “Super Nintendo”). Like all curious humans, we want to play with it (“curiosity kills the cat”).

Now, the future went forward to a group of teens that get into detention and they find that same “game console” at the school. ..

Sal: After the movie, my “bro’s family” and I were talking about this particular scene. I opened up to them that I’ve been to detention back in my high school days..once only! I explained to them that it was for a “little thing”. I was tardy to school 3x, so I had to serve detention after school one day. I didn’t share the rest of the story, but detention might vary from school to school. But, the detention at my high school was just like having an “open classroom”. We brought our homework to this classroom and just sat there quietly for a certain period of time (can’t remember how long 30 minutes-60 minutes??). This might not be too bad for some people, but it wasn’t good for after school athletes. I can’t remember if I was playing sports at the time, but I remembered I had to take the city bus back home after school . I didn’t want to call my parents to pick me up because I didn’t want to let them know I had to stay after school for detention..lol!

Another similar story was being suspended from school. This happened when I was in “middle school”. I was in 6th grade and had to go to the principal’s office before being sent home early in the school day. I won’t share “exactly” what I or my friend and I did, but it was pretty “serious” 😦 Anyways, let’s get back to the movie :)..

During detention, these teenagers find that same game console that cause the disappearance of Alex back in 1996 (20 years ago). These teenagers are about to get their “character” or behavior issues (e.g. selfish, stuck-up, etc..-typical “teenager” attitudes) change with this “jumanji experience”

Life can be like a “jungle” as we are surrounded by vicious “wild animals” (e.g. evil people). We can sometimes even act like “wild animals” ourselves in our “bad days” as were are just “human” (e.g. sinful nature-> Deep Thought: What “causes” us to do “bad” (sin) stuff? goodnewseverybodycom.wordpress.com ). However, we need a Savior (call upon “Jesus”-just like how they had to call out “jumanji” at the end to finalize the game to win!).

Guns N’ Roses – Welcome To The Jungle – YouTube

I also reflected on the importance of individual’s gifts (e.g. talents, skills, spiritual -mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13 above, etc..) that God has given to each of us that we “need” to use and help each other. We can’t do this life on our own! We need each other!

“We have only one life” ! Use it to better the world and help the people around you!

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia“..The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who called it a “pleasant surprise” and praised the cast.[6] It grossed over $962 million worldwide, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2017 and the 42nd-highest-grossing film of all time.

During worship service this morning at my local church, I shared some thoughts that I felt eager to share with the church body during “shares” after the worship music:

I shared that I’ve been interested in the recent news in Oroville, California…

… and been following up on it. I felt that their is a lot of symbolism with “man-made” dams that have been constructed around the world with our “spiritual” walk. The dams can be a symbolism of “lies” (e.g. “Your not good enough” , You are a loser”, etc..)that has been spoken to each of us in various ways that hinder us to receive more what God can do through us.

Before writing this, I was reminded of this “old-school” worship song..

I feel that we need to let God destroy that “spiritual dam” in our personal lives in order for His “Holy Spirit” to move in us mightier as His children.

What are you currently personally “struggling” with? Do you trust that God will get your through it? I then shared one of the songs that was sung during worship on “I’m NO longer a slave to fear..”, which I shared last year at church that we can substitute “fear” with whatever (e.g. sin, depression, alcohol, deception…

After my share, the guest speakers (Dennis & Zoe) from Pillager, MN shared about their recent trip to the Philippines. This family duo modeled how God can use us . They went to the Philippines to minister to the people there in different barangays/villages in various ways (e.g. healing, words of knowedledge, encouragement, etc..) This was such an encouragement for all of that we don’t have to depend on “ministers” or “church leaders” to do God’s work. We all can be used by Him to bring the taste of God’s kingdom on earth.

Hope and pray this will touch you and may God use each of us mightily in these days and please pray for the people of Oroville and the communities in the valley downstream of the #Orovillespillway or #Orovilledam. Feel free to share your thoughts, prayer requests, etc..

When your kids are old enough, what order should they watch the films in? The order they were released — Star Wars (A New Hope) (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983), then The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), and Revenge of the Sith (2005)? Or the order the events happened in the Star Wars universe: Phantom Menace (I), Attack of the Clones (II), Revenge of the Sith (III), New Hope (IV), Empire Strikes Back (V), and Return of the Jedi (VI)?

Rod Hilton, a computer programmer in Colorado, has given this a lot of thought, and he probably has the best solution. His (correct) instinct is to start with New Hope (IV), because if you start with Phantom Menace (I) you lose the essential shock of learning Luke’s parentage in Empire Strikes Back. But he also wants to end on a high note — so, none of the prequels. Here’s Hilton’s “Machete Order,” named after his blog, Absolutely No Machete Juggling:

Next time you want to introduce someone to Star Wars for the first time, watch the films with them in this order: IV, V, II, III, VI…”Star Wars From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia en.wikipedia.org“…is an American epic space opera franchise, centered on a film series created by George Lucas. It depicts the adventures of various characters “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”.

The franchise began in 1977 with the release of the film Star Wars (subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope in 1981[2][3]),..”

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) imdb.com“Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire’s world-destroying battle-station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the evil Darth Vader. “

Two months prior to the airing of this episode of “The Mike Douglas Show”, the mega-blockbuster film “Star Wars” debuted in U.S. movie theaters. Host Mike Douglas and co-host Richard Thomas are joined by the three top “Star Wars” cast members — Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill.

This is a rare chance to see these three “Star Wars” actors in their younger days, prior to the time when “super stardom” enveloped the trio.

This show was taped at Mike Douglas’ Philadelphia studios on July 20, 1977.

Sal: We need to get “equipped” (see Good News Ministry) and “taught” by mentors (those who have walked the walked) before we personally/individually take on the “enemy”. Season to “train” and season for “active duty” for war…

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) from imdb.com“After rescuing Han Solo from the palace of Jabba the Hutt, the rebels attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke struggles to make Vader return from the dark side of the Force. ..”

Update: Just watched it again (January 2nd 2016) and got this “relevation”-I was watching the scene where the evil guy tries to make Vader and his son Luke kill each other. He keeps telling Luke to “hate” (“let the hate flow through you…haha!”) and be “angry”. Fortunately, Luke remembers his teaching (mentored by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda) to fight with “love“!

“At the very end of The Return of the Jedi, just when it seems that all hope is lost, something incredible happens. Darth Vader, the longstanding antagonist of the series, sacrifices himself to save his son and defeat the emperor. Vader had believed he was too far gone to ever find redemption. He had done so many terrible things, betrayed so many people. How could he ever be forgiven?

Luke, on the other hand (no pun intended), never lost faith in Vader. In fact, he believed so strongly he was willing to pay the ultimate price for his forgiveness. There are many people like Vadar who look back on their mistakes and think it’s too late, but they are wrong. I doesn’t matter how far we’ve strayed or how mangled we’ve become, Jesus gave his life so that we could be forgiven (John 3:16). God doesn’t need to save you, He already has…”
*see Luke 17

THIS VIDEO HAD NO INTENTION OF MAKING ANY PROFITS. All of the material belongs to their respective owners.

This was taken from the Star Wars: The Complete Saga as a special feature for the Original Trilogy of Star Wars.

You can purchase the Complete Saga on Amazon here in the link below:

goo.gl/B7j7Ho”

PREQUEL TRILOGY

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) from imdb.com“Two Jedi Knights escape a hostile blockade to find allies and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force, but the long dormant Sith resurface to reclaim their old glory. ..”

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace christiananswers.net“…On the flip side, there is also a “dark side” which is easier to tap into because anger, fear, and aggression all lead to it. Only by staying calm, patient and passive can one avoid turning to the dark side. Obviously we need to teach our kids what the Bible has to say about all of this. We need to teach them that there is a real force and His name is Jesus Christ and in fact all things were created by Him (John 1:3; John 1:10) and through Him all things truly consist (Colossians 1:17)! Furthermore, they need to know that sin, which we have all committed, (Romans 3:23) leads to the “dark side” and we must accept Christ as Lord of ours lives to get us into heaven (Romans 6:23)…”

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) .imdb.com“Ten years after initially meeting, Anakin Skywalker shares a forbidden romance with Padmé, while Obi-Wan investigates an assassination attempt on the Senator and discovers a secret clone army crafted for the Jedi. ..”

Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones compiled by Jeffrey Overstreet Copyright Christianity Today International 2002 1 Jan crosswalk.com“.. In this chapter, young Anakin Skywalker starts giving in to his foolish impulses, rejects the counsel of his teachers, and responds to the temptations that lead him on the path of the Dark Side. His primary weakness is his infatuation with the beautiful Senator Padme Amidala…”

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) imdb.com“..During the near end of the clone wars, Darth Sidious has revealed himself and is ready to execute the last part of his plan to rule the Galaxy. Sidious is ready for his new apprentice, Lord… See full summary » ..”

Sal: Another revelation or thought was during the scene when Rey “commands” the Star Trooper to release her and drop his weapon..lol! I saw this as believers needing to practice using their authority as God’s children against the evil and dark forces…in Jesus’ name!

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), from imdb.comRogue One: A Star Wars Story starwars.com“From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves. In theaters December 2016.

Rogue One review: this is the first Star Wars movie to acknowledge the whole franchise is about war Updated by Todd VanDerWerff@tvoti Dec 16, 2016, 11:14am EST vox.com
It’s often incoherent and messy. But it’s also beautiful and has a strong central theme.“..But if the film is politically relevant, it’s only accidentally so, not intentionally. I say that not just because Rogue One was completed long before Donald Trump’s election or even Brexit, but because Edwards uses a kind of scattershot approach to political content in his films — he’ll give you just enough of an idea of what he’s going for, but he’s uninterested in pushing any further than that.

An early shot in Rogue One features Stormtroopers patrolling the streets of a city rife with tension between various factions, rolling around in a tank. At various moments, it calls to mind the US occupation of Iraq and police militarization of American cities. But it’s not entirely clear whether Edwards has thought about what these similarities might mean in the larger tapestry of Rogue One beyond “Do you get this reference?” It’s political commentary as Family Guy joke…”
*see Neutral Perspective: Iraq War was justified or not? An Epic Scene in Rogue One Will Change How You See Darth Vader Megan McCluskey Dec. 16, 2016 time.com
This post contains spoilers for Rogue One.

Others:

9 Ways Star Wars Parallels the Bible by Paul Kent onfaith.co
The Death Star and pride? Luke Skywalker and Moses? Star Wars mirrors Scripture more than you think.“..His life goal is to spur interest in the Bible for readers of all ages and backgrounds. Paul has loved the Star Wars saga since he saw the original movie poster at age 11. He is the author of The Real Force: A 40-Day Devotional. We asked him to list 9 ways in which the Star Wars series parallels the Bible..”Star Wars, Literary Parallels and the Bible April 11, 2013 logosmadeflesh.com“..Have you noticed how the second Star Wars trilogy (episodes I-III) parallels the first (episodes IV-VI)? Here are a few examples..”

Mark Hamill From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia“.. (born September 25, 1951) is an American stage, screen and voice actor. He is known for playing Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars film series and for his voice-over work in animations and video games as the Joker, commencing with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992. Hamill has acted in several theater productions, notably The Elephant Man, and is the co-writer of The Black Pearl comic book miniseries…”

An Hour With Mark Hamill Panel – Star Wars Celebration 2016

-Theories

10 Star Wars Fan Theories That Will Blow Your Mind , from youtube.com“Description:
Did Han Solo really survive on dumb luck, or was the Force with him? Why do the Ewoks think C-3PO is their god? Was Luke Skywalker standing next to a grave at the end of The Force Awakens? Star Wars fans have burning questions. Sometimes, they also have the answers. This video is a review of our favorite mind-blowing Star Wars fan theories, the ones that change the whole picture of what’s going on in the movies.”

-Fasting in a regular basis (e.g. I try to “fast” on vegetables/fruits 3 meals a week: 1-usually every Sunday mornings before church service to get me “hungry” for God’s word 2/3-usually at work when we have a meal I’m not interested in eating (e.g. red meat or high carbs)
-singing some worship (chorus) songs in my daily activities (e.g. riding the bike, watching “news” on t.v., and various “leisure activities”)

Lately, this theme of forgiveness has been circulating where ever I go. I had to “let it out” and write about it. I ran into this video on “spiritual warfare” and the speaker shared this quote that really resonated in me…

Above is a post I shared in one of my groups (Good News Love) I created on facebook. I’ve heard there is power when we forgive each other, so I would like to start…

If any of my friends read this, please forgive me if I ever wronged you in anyway. I might’ve forgotten it, so please feel free to contact me and remind me if this will help release any resentment, offense, or hurt that will heal you.

One of the causes of “offense” is due to misunderstanding, which we all quickly prejudge. There are times I reflect on my parents fighting and it’s due to the “failure to communicate” (see “Failure to Communicate”-song I wrote). Can you relate? Feel free to share below…

For those that haven’t met me yet or haven’t encountered any offense from me…yet! 😉 I’m sure there are others that might’ve hurt you in various ways (e.g. abuse). Unfortunately, you might not ever get them to forgive you. However, God (Heavenly Father) knows and I encourage you to go to Him for healing of your past hurts.

Back in high school, a former “friend” of mine wanted to befriend me after “ignoring” me most of the later years of “middle school”. Not being a Christian at the time, I wouldn’t forgive him and shun him away. Month later, he died in a head-on-collision car accident (visiting his biological Mom all the way in Colorado). I was torn in pieces when I heard the news and wished I reconciled with him. Please don’t make the dumbest mistake as I did, reconcile with those that has hurt you before it’s too late.

During my college and post-college years, I was interested in learning more about WWII (more of the Pacific arena) due to my family’s history (grandfather got capture by the Japanese and survived as a cook and great-grandfather was presumably killed as he never returned home when scoping the vicinity for any Japanese solders). As I read more books of the horrific atrocities the Japanese did in the Philippines and elsewhere, my heart towards the Japanese grew with more hate :(.. Well, God seems to try to soften my heart by bringing Japanese students to the college I attended. Then He brought them to be my renters in the house I owned. My last renter caught me watching some WWII footage of Japan’s horrific treatment. I tried to turned it off, but he saw it and we ended up having a deep conversation. He ended up asking forgiveness for what his ancestors did. I told him no worries, but in my heart-I felt some more compassion for him and the Japanese people overall.

Lastly, this is between me and my Heavenly Father-I gave my life to Christ my freshmen year in college. I did it after hearing a testimony of this speaker at a local church in Morris. This grabbed my heart and got me off my seat to go to the front (alter) and asked God to forgive me all of my sins. That was just the beginning and still in the journey of my faith (still sinning, but trying to sin-less as I grow in my personal relationship with my “Heavenly Dad” :)..

Above are just summaries of some of my stories on forgiveness-repentance. I’ll be glad to share more, but would love to hear yours first. I would love to disclose and be open/transparent/honest with you with my personal challenges-struggles as “we” can help each other in this journey of forgiveness with the “limited uncertain” time we have on this earth…